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Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies

Sweets Per 100 g · Per 100g serving
Contains: 🥛 Milk

Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies is a sweet/confection, containing 492 calories per 100g. It is an excellent source of Carbohydrate, providing 71.19 g (55% of the Daily Value) per 100g serving. Sweets and confections are primarily energy-dense foods. Some varieties, such as dark chocolate, contain notable amounts of minerals and bioactive compounds. Our database tracks 68 nutrients for this food, plus glycemic index, polyphenol profile, environmental footprint data.

492
Calories
kcal
4.3
Protein
g
21.1
Fat
g
71.2
Carbs
g
2.8
Fiber
g

Top Nutrients

💪
Carbohydrate
71.2 g
55% DV
💎
Copper
0.34 mg
38% DV
☀️
Vitamin B12
0.53 µg
22% DV

Data for 68 of 150 tracked nutrients

Nutrient Fingerprint

How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.

Complete Nutrient Profile

Macronutrients 9
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Water SR1.7g
0%
Calories SR492kcal
Energy (kJ) SR2,057kj
Protein SR4.3g
8%
Total Fat SR21.1g
Carbohydrate SR71.2g
55%
Fiber SR2.8g
7%
Total Sugars SR63.7g
Ash SR1.6g
Minerals 11
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Calcium SR105mg
10%
Iron SR1.1mg
14%
Magnesium SR44.0mg
11%
Phosphorus SR146mg
21%
Potassium SR261mg
8%
Sodium SR61.0mg
4%
Zinc SR1.6mg
15%
Copper SR0.34mg
38%
Manganese SR0.33mg
14%
Selenium SR3.3µg
6%
Fluoride SR17.5µg
0%
Vitamins 27
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Vitamin A (RAE) SR187µg
21%
Vitamin A (IU) SR56.0IU
Retinol SR56.0µg
Beta-Carotene SR0µg
Alpha-Carotene SR0µg
Beta-Cryptoxanthin SR0µg
Lycopene SR0µg
Lutein + Zeaxanthin SR0µg
Vitamin C SR0.50mg
1%
Vitamin D SR0µg
Vitamin D (IU) SR0IU
Vitamin E SR0.36mg
2%
Beta-Tocopherol SR0mg
Gamma-Tocopherol SR0.64mg
Vitamin K1 SR4.0µg
3%
Thiamin (B1) SR0.08mg
7%
Riboflavin (B2) SR0.21mg
16%
Niacin (B3) SR0.27mg
2%
Pantothenic Acid (B5) SR0.33mg
7%
Vitamin B6 SR0.03mg
2%
Folate SR8.0µg
2%
Folic Acid SR0µg
Folate (food) SR8.0µg
Folate (DFE) SR8.0µg
Vitamin B12 SR0.53µg
22%
Choline SR21.7mg
4%
Betaine SR0.80mg
Fatty Acids 8
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Saturated Fat SR13.1g
Monounsaturated Fat SR5.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat SR0.92g
Trans Fat SR0.17g
Cholesterol SR14.0mg
Omega-3 EPA SR0g
Omega-3 DPA SR0g
Omega-3 DHA SR0g
Individual Fatty Acids 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Butyric Acid (4:0) SR0.46g
Caproic Acid (6:0) SR0.17g
Caprylic Acid (8:0) SR0.10g
Capric Acid (10:0) SR0.18g
Lauric Acid (12:0) SR0.20g
Myristic Acid (14:0) SR0.61g
Palmitic Acid (16:0) SR5.5g
Stearic Acid (18:0) SR5.6g
Linoleic Acid (18:2) SR0.86g
5%
Linolenic Acid (18:3) SR0.06g
Other 3
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Caffeine SR14.0mg
Theobromine SR143mg
Alcohol SR0g

Nutrient Density Score

The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.

1
NRF9.3 Score
Moderate · per 100 kcal
Poor (<0) Moderate Good Excellent (100+)

NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.

Nutrient Interactions in This Food

Nutrients in this food that enhance or compete with each other during absorption.

✔ Synergies — nutrients that help each other

Dietary Fat + Vitamin A●●●

Vitamin A is fat-soluble and requires dietary fat for absorption. Adding fat to a meal significantly increases beta-carotene and retinol absorption.

Ribaya-Mercado et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2007

Protein + Calcium●●

Moderate protein intake enhances calcium absorption and supports bone health. The acid-ash hypothesis suggesting protein harms bones has been largely disproven.

Kerstetter et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005

⚠ Antagonisms — nutrients that compete

Calcium vs Iron●●●

Calcium inhibits both heme and non-heme iron absorption when consumed in the same meal. The effect is dose-dependent, with significant inhibition at 300+ mg calcium.

Hallberg et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1991

Zinc vs Copper●●●

High zinc intake induces metallothionein in enterocytes, which traps copper and blocks its absorption. Prolonged high-dose zinc can cause copper deficiency.

Prasad et al., JAMA, 1978; Fosmire, Am J Clin Nutr, 1990

Zinc vs Iron●●

Zinc and non-heme iron compete for the same intestinal transporter (DMT1). High doses of one can reduce absorption of the other when taken simultaneously.

Rossander-Hulten et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1991

Calcium vs Magnesium●●

Very high calcium intake can reduce magnesium absorption by competing for shared intestinal transport pathways. A calcium:magnesium ratio above 2.6:1 may impair magnesium status.

Rosanoff et al., Nutr Rev, 2012

Fiber vs Iron●●

Phytates in high-fibre foods (whole grains, legumes) bind non-heme iron and reduce its bioavailability. Soaking, sprouting, and fermentation reduce phytate content.

Hurrell & Egli, Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2010

Fatty Acid Profile

Breakdown of fat types per 100g. A healthy fat profile favours unsaturated fats (mono + poly) and a balanced omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.

13.1g
Saturated
5.2g
Monounsaturated
0.92g
Polyunsaturated
Omega Fatty Acids
Linoleic acid (18:2 n-6)0.86 g
⚠ Trans fat: 0.17 g per 100g. WHO recommends less than 1% of total energy from trans fats.

Glycemic Impact

The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar on a 0–100 scale. Glycemic Load (GL) accounts for typical serving size. Low GI < 55, Medium 56–69, High ≥ 70.

43
Glycemic Index
Low GI
12
Glycemic Load
Medium GL (per 50g)
GI Scale 43
0 Low <55 Med High ≥70 100

GI data matched from: “Chocolate, milk” · ●●● high confidence

Source: International Tables of Glycemic Index (Sydney University, 2021)

Polyphenols & Bioactive Compounds

Polyphenols are plant-derived compounds with antioxidant properties. Higher intake is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk and improved gut health.

236
Total Polyphenols
mg per 100g · Rich Source
2
Polyphenol Classes
identified in this food
Flavonoids183 mg78%
Phenolic Acids53 mg22%

Processing Impact on Polyphenols

How common cooking methods affect polyphenol content in cocoa & chocolate. Retention % is relative to the raw/unprocessed food.

Best Method
Baking/Roasting
75% retained
Most Loss
Baking/Roasting
75% retained
🔥
Baking/Roasting75%
Cocoa roasting: key step in flavor development, moderate flavanol≈177 mg

Health Associations

Research-backed associations for the polyphenol classes found in this food. Evidence strength rated from systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

💜
↓ Cardiovascular disease riskModerate
Flavonoids: Meta-analyses of prospective cohorts show 10-20% lower CVD risk with higher flav
💜
↓ Blood pressureModerate
Flavonoids: RCTs show modest systolic BP reductions (2-5 mmHg) with flavanol-rich cocoa and
🔵
↑ Antioxidant capacityStrong
Phenolic Acids: Chlorogenic acid (coffee) and ferulic acid (grains) show consistent antioxidant
🔵
↑ Glucose metabolismModerate
Phenolic Acids: Chlorogenic acid may slow glucose absorption and improve insulin sensitivity
⚠ Most evidence is from observational studies and in vitro research. Randomized controlled trials are limited. Individual responses vary based on gut microbiome, genetics, and overall diet. Associations do not prove causation.

Polyphenol data matched from: “Milk chocolate” · ●●● high confidence

Source: Phenol-Explorer 3.6 (INRA, 2023) · Retention: Rothwell 2013, Palermo 2014 · Health: Del Bo' 2019, Grosso 2017

Environmental Impact

Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Cane Sugar” category.

3.2
kg CO₂e / kg
Moderate Impact
2.0
m² land / kg
Land Use
620
L water / kg
Water Use
5.2
g SO₂e / kg
Acidification
How this compares (GHG emissions)
Potatoes (0.5)Chicken (9.9)Beef (99.5)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions3.2 kg CO₂e / kg
Land Use2.0 m² / kg
Water Use620 L / kg
Eutrophication17.1 g PO₄e / kg
Acidification5.2 g SO₂e / kg
⚠️ Important context about this data
  • Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
  • System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
  • Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
  • Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.

Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.

Global Supply: Sugar & Sweeteners

Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Sugar & Sweeteners” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.

1.
Guatemala
594
2.
United States of America
569
3.
Belgium
564
4.
Poland
555
5.
Tuvalu
528
6.
Colombia
520
7.
New Zealand
499
8.
Belgium-Luxembourg
493
9.
Hungary
493
10.
Republic of Korea
489

Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)

+26%
1961: 230 kcal2023: 289 kcal

Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies?

Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies contains 492 kcal per 100 grams, making it a calorie-dense food. The energy comes from 4.3g of protein (4% of calories), 21.1g of fat (39%), and 71.2g of carbohydrates (58%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.

What is Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies most nutritious for?

The standout nutrient in Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies is Carbohydrate, providing 71.2 g per 100g (55% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Copper (38% DV). Our database tracks 68 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Is Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies high in protein?

Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies contains 4.3g of protein per 100 grams. While not a high-protein food, it can contribute to daily protein needs as part of a varied diet.

How much fiber is in Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies?

Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies contains 2.8g of fiber per 100 grams, which is a small amount. To increase fiber intake, consider pairing with high-fiber foods such as legumes, whole grains, or vegetables.

What is the glycemic index of Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies?

Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies has a glycemic index of 43, which is classified as low (≤55). Low-GI foods cause a slower, more gradual rise in blood sugar levels, which may be beneficial for blood sugar management. The glycemic load, which accounts for typical serving size, provides additional context for real-world blood sugar impact.

Does Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies contain polyphenols?

Yes, Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies contains approximately 236 mg of polyphenols per 100g, primarily from the high class. Polyphenols are bioactive plant compounds associated with antioxidant properties. Their retention can vary with cooking and processing methods — see the processing impact section above for details.